Abstract: Apparatus for removing samples from a single-layer stream of cigarettes which move sideways in the peripheral flutes of hollow rotary first and second drum-shaped conveyors has two valving elements which are disposed in the interior of the respective conveyors and establish or terminate connections between certain suction ports of the two conveyors and a suction generating device in such a way that a desired number of samples can remain on the first conveyor and advance therewith beyond a transfer zone between the two conveyors when the operator depresses a pushbutton, or at regular intervals. In normal operation, all of the cigarettes which are supplied to the flutes of the first conveyor upstream of the transfer zone are delivered to the flutes of the second conveyor.

Abstract: Webs of cigarette paper, filter wrapping paper or metallic or plastic foil in cigarette rod making, filter rod making or cigarette packing machines are spliced to each other by uniting bands which are removed from a strip-shaped flexible carrier and delivered to the splicing station by a pivotable lever, either in response to reciprocation of a carriage by hand or by a motor or in response to automatic actuation of a fluid-operated motor so that its piston rod performs forward and return strokes. Each uniting band is adhesive at both sides and the splicing station is located between the path of movement of the running web and the path of movement of a fresh web which latter is accelerated to the speed of the running web prior to start of the splicing operation.

Abstract: Apparatus for severing the running web of tipping paper in a filter tipping machine has a rotary anvil whose cylindrical peripheral surface is contacted by the running web, a rotary carrier which is adjacent to and defines with the anvil a nip for the running web, a knife which is movably mounted in the carrier and has an elongated cutting edge which cooperates with the web-contacting portion of the peripheral surface of the anvil to sever the web once during each revolution of the carrier, and a system of springs which bias the knife axially of the carrier so as to prevent movements of the knife under the action of centrifugal force and/or gravity but to allow the knife to move its cutting edge into a position in which the entire cutting edge contacts the peripheral surface of the anvil upon completion of the first cut. This reduces noise which is generated when the apparatus is in use.

Abstract: A filter rod making machine discharges several parallel filter rods which move lengthwise and are severed at regular intervals to yield files of axially aligned filter rod sections. Such sections are transported axially to a first transfer station where they enter discrete flutes in the concave upper side of one of several rotary platforms which orbit about the axis of a rotary carrier and are rotated relative to the carrier by crank drives so that the orientation of their flutes remains unchanged. The flutes of a platform which arrives at the first station receive discrete filter rod sections from each of the files so that each platform accumulates a group of parallel sections which are transported to a second station for transfer into successive peripheral flutes of a rotary drum-shaped removing conveyor.

Abstract: The device which splices the leaders of webs on successive fresh bobbins to the running webs of expiring bobbins in a cigarette maker receives fresh bobbins from a magazine which discharges fresh bobbins one after the other when the need arises. The discharged fresh bobbin rolls along a downwardly sloping ramp and is arrested by the holder for a blade which is thereupon caused to move in parallelism with the axis of the arrested fresh bobbin so as to sever the outermost layer or layers of convoluted flexible material on the core of such fresh bobbin. The outermost layer is a protective strip which surrounds the outermost convolution of the cigarette paper web. A foraminous belt conveyor is installed below the fresh bobbin which abuts against the holder for the blade and this conveyor cooperates with one or more suction chambers to attract the severed layer or layers as well as the freshly formed leader of the cigarette paper web.

Abstract: Apparatus for releasably supporting the core of a bobbin of cigarette paper web has a rotary holder which carries a spindle and has a flange extending beyond the spindle to locate one axial end of the core on the spindle. The spindle has apertures for the fingers of a first locating device which is mounted on the holder and engages the internal surface of the core to center the bobbin on the spindle, and for the fingers of a second locating device which is also mounted on the holder and engages one axial end of the core to urge the other axial end of the core against the flange. A ring-shaped actuating element is reciprocable on the holder in the axial direction of the spindle to disengage the fingers of the first locating device prior to disengagement of the fingers of the second locating device or to engage the fingers of the second locating device ahead of the fingers of the first locating device.